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Thread: Which camera to choose?

  1. #1
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    Default Which camera to choose?

    Hello everyone! :-)

    First of all, I'm really happy that I found this forum, and I already got answers for many questions.
    I was working in a studio a few years ago, so I'm not a newbie... but since technology and many other things changed, I would like to ask a few things, because I wanna find the best camera solution.

    My equipment at the moment:

    Acer Aspire 3103nwlmi laptop (5-6 years old thing but it's not so slow)
    AMD Sempron 3400+, 1,800 Ghz processor
    2GB RAM
    Radeon Xpress 1100 video card
    Only USB slots, no HDMI-DVI-etc.

    Internet:
    30/3 Mb/s

    Webcamera:
    Logitech C270 (720p HD)

    I'm not satisfied with my C270 camera, it doesn't reliable, and I doesn't have a tripod for it, it doesn't have optical zoom.
    In the studio we were working with digital camcoders, which were connected to PC's, and we used
    SplitCam to be online on many sites at the same time. I have an idea that I should buy a digital camcoder, but a HD one, cos I would like to use it for travelling, family etc. I know that there are USB capture devices which can help me out, since I don't have a PC or a laptop with HDMI input. I would buy a tripod for it, and then me or my husband will move and zoom the camera. This USB capture device is not so expensive, but I don't really know if it's really good.
    So far I'm thinking about buying this product:



    If I buy a cheaper HD digital camera, like Sony DCR-SX21ES, JVC Everio GZ-HM30, or Panasonic SDR-S70EP-K, then what can I expect?
    Is HD video stream a standard nowadays on webcam sex sites? If later I get a new laptop, which has

    HDMI port, maybe it's not a bad choice. But currently I don't have enough fund the buy a new laptop :-)
    Can u tell me a HD camera (around Sony DCR-SX21ES price), which can be used as an USB webcamera?
    Another idea to buy an older DV Camera, like Sony DCR-HC62E, which can be used as an USB webcamera.
    It's not HD, but I can connect it directly to my laptop's USB port and encoding is not need with USB capture device.
    I don't know if this video quality is enough nowadays or not...
    Do you know other good MiniDV cameras, which has Webcamera feature?

    Third options are webcams: I heard a lot good of Logitech Pro 9000, but I think it's not a huge step from Logitech C270.
    What I know for sure that I would like to use a tripod.
    I found two webcameras, which can be used on tripod:

    and



    I would like to be on 3 or 4 sites at the same time - Still the Splitcam software suitable for me?
    Or can you recommend something else?
    Working with my husband it's easy to manage many sites at the same time ;-)

    How about voice? Do members expect sound in 2012? I do have a small mic, so it's not an issue but my English speech is not the best. One last thing is lighting. Currently I do have three lamps to light a small room. Not much space, so all action would take place in a bed (2x2 meters). With energy saving fluorescent light I can achive about 350 Watts (calculated in normal bulbs output) together. Is it enough? Each bulbs are around 2700K, warm white colour.

    So, what do you suggest for me? I'm very sorry if some of these questions are answered somewhere in the forum. I have read a lot of topics here, but I'm still very unsure what to buy.

    Huge thanks for advance,

    RS

  2. #2
    Featured Member maryjaynexo's Avatar
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    Default Re: Which camera to choose?

    Welcome to the forum! A little advice about the search function, I find the search function here sometimes isn't adequate, and the google search works much better. All you need to do is type in site:stripperweb.com into Google, and then your search terms, like "which camera", "lighting," "hdmi," etc. I find this way nets a lot more relevant information than the search function sometimes.

    I can't advise you much about camcorders, but I do have a Logitech 9000, and it's great. It flatters you and has a crisp picture while not showing every little flaw. I really like it. It can also zoom in for really high definition close-ups (great for clips). Perhaps someone who uses a different type of camera can advise you, but I use my 9000 to record HD clips and do shows, and I've never had problems with it.

    Whether you splitcam or not is really up to you, but you will find that your video quality degrades the more sites you are on.
    As for audio, I have cammed with and without and it's all up to you. Nearly everyone will ask you for it, though. I have one site I do audio on and one site I don't. The 9000's mic is great, but almost too sensitive. It will definitely pick up whatever you're saying, though.

    Lighting is important, but you don't need to buy professional lights at first. You can use any kind of lamp, really, as long as there is enough light so you don't look washed-out, picture doesn't look grainy, etc. I've heard of people using pink lights for a flattering effect as well.

    Good luck camming!




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  4. #3
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    Default Re: Which camera to choose?

    Thank you for the advices, Mary Jay. I will use your searching method too! But, like I said, I've already found a lot of things about cameras, but not all questions... I'm waiting for more advices, especially about camcoders! Many thanks again!
    One more thing: I've found out that my laptop has a PCMCIA slot :-) I don't know if it's good for me for camcoder connection, I'll do a google research about it...
    If it's true, I can buy a new digital HD camera, and transfer the picture via FireWire PCMCIA Card. I don't know if anyone has experience in this case.
    Last edited by ragingspears; 02-14-2012 at 08:25 AM.

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  6. #4
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    Default Re: Which camera to choose?

    The USB 2.0 based video capture device in your first post is going to be a 'bottleneck' when digitizing a HD analog camera signal. USB 3.0 solves the 'bottleneck' problem but of course your old laptop only has USB 2.0 ports

    There are a few PCMCIA based video capture cards that won't create a 'bottleneck' ... starting in the $50 ballpark. The only one I have experience with is the AverTV CardBus Plus, which is capable of real time 1080p video capture.

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    Default Re: Which camera to choose?

    Thank you for your help, Melonie. About the mentioned AverTV CardBus Plus, I could buy it for about 25-30 dollars (used), but I'm not sure that it's capable of HD video transfer.

    I've found this product, but it can't see anything about 720p or 1080p quality. There's an input in the middle of the card, but I just don't know what kind of input is that. I couldn't find a very close-up picture, is it possible that it's a HDMI input?
    And, in overall, do you suggest the PCMCIA Card + Digital HD video camera for me?

    Another, brand-new idea :-) Maybe I'll go with Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920. In another topic it is said that a H264 compression chipset is built in, so it has less cpu usage. I can use it with a mount too. Maybe it's a good investment, if later I'll have money for a new laptop, with USB3 interface. Thinking about getting a Gorillapod mount for the C920. There won't be optical zoom, but (and instead of digital zoom) I'll just put the cam on the tripod next to me wherever I want.
    I've just read the topic about C910 vs. C920, it was very useful, but also makes the choice difficult :-)

    One last thing: Which one would you choose of these 3 tripod cams?:


    or

    or


    Thank you in advance!
    Last edited by ragingspears; 02-15-2012 at 08:29 AM.

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